A case of a Russian school teacher accused of knowingly buying PCs running …

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Earlier this month, we reported on a Russian court case where a teacher (also the principal), Alexander Ponosov, was accused of knowingly purchasing computers running pirated copies of Windows XP. Ponosov argued that he had no idea that the operating systems were counterfeit, but the prosecution countered claiming that the teacher's school had already been caught using illegal software. Russian leaders including Mikhail Gorbachev and Vladimir Putin came to Ponosov's defense, and Gorbachev even went as far as asking for Bill Gates' help in the matter. At the time, a Microsoft spokesperson would only say, "We are sure that the Russian courts will make a fair decision."

Today, a decision was made as the case was dismissed in a Vereshchaginsky District Court. The ruling was issued by Judge Vera Barakina, and it was watched by a national audience on a Russian state television channel. The case has been very high profile due to Russia's recent attempts at stopping software piracy within its borders. The country has been accused of being a hotbed for illegal software.

Aleksandr Troyanov, the prosecutor in the case, said that he plans to issue an appeal within the next ten days. Microsoft, who has refrained from becoming overly involved in the case, only stated, "Our interest is not in prosecuting schools or teachers, it is in helping students develop the technology skills they need in the 21st century." Ponosov also reacted to Microsoft's overall involvement in the case, basically saying that the company did the right thing by keeping afar and not intervening in what is Russia's problem.

Although an appeal is in the works, Ponosov was still in high spirits. "We're off to drink champagne now," he boasted.